Improvement in printing-presses



ZSheets SheetL, L. L. LAMB 81. A. M. PRATT.

Printing-Presses.

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THE GRAPHIC CQPHOT-LITKSBI- 4-! PARK l lAci lkY.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2,

L. L.'LAMB & A. M. PRATT Printing-Presses.

N0,]55,315, Patented Sept. 22,1874.

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' erZ THE GRAPHIC CO. PHOTO-M11398: 4| PARK PLACENX.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoa LEVI L. LAMB AND ARTHUR M. PRATT, OFCHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRlNTlNG-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,315, datedSeptember 22, 1874 application filed February 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, LEVI L. LAMB and ARTHURM. PRATT, both of Chelsea, in the county of. Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Printing- Presses; and wedo hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with thedrawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is adescription of our invention sufficient to enable those skilled in theart to practice it.

The invention relates to details of construction of a printing-press ofthat class employed particularly in printing cards, each machine havinga movable platen and a movable typebed arranged over a suitable table orframe,

and standing normally in vertically-flaring position, they being broughttogether or toward each other, and into parallel position to print thecard.

In our invention we pivot the outer end of the frame or arms I to whichthe type bed is fixed upon a stationary horizontal rod or shaft, and toears extending from the opposite end of said frame we pivot theplatenframe, the pivot being a horizontal cross-shaft connecting the twoframes. To this shaft we joint a toggle -.link that, extending downthrough the table, is jointed to a crank-arm at the inner end of ahorizontal shaft, which carries at'its outer end a handle, by which theoperator, in depressing the handle, brings the platen and typebedtogether by bringing the crank-arm and link from inclined position intoline, the platen and bed being separated by the stress of a suitablespring when the hand-lever is released or started up.

By such arrangement of the operating mechanism the platen and bed areleft unobstructed, and are readily operated; and our invention consistsin the arrangement thus generally described, and in the combinationtherewith of a cutter mechanism for trimming or severing the cards, anda gage for determinin g the length of card severed.

The drawing represents a press embodying our construction.

Figure 1 shows the press in plan. Figs. 2 and 3 are side views thereof.Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation.

the inner end of the frame under the bed are ears h, through whichextends a shaft or rod, '5, that joints the frame to the platen-frame k,the arms 1 of this frame being held against the top of the table by asuitable spring, 8. By the stress of the springs the platen and bed andtheir frames are normally held in position shown in Fig. 2. To theconnecting rod or shaft i is jointed the link m, the lower end of whichlink is jointed to the crank arm n of a shaft, 0, turning in stationarybearings under the table, and having at its outer end the pressoperatinghand-lever or arm 19.

When the platen and bed are separated the link and crank arm stand inthe position shown in Fig. 2, but by depressing the leverarm 19 the linkm is thrown down, and draws down the rod 4. and with it the two frames.thereby bringing the platen and bed together, or into position shown inFig. 3, the peculiar combination of the mechanism enabling the press tobe very easily operated.

To the frame is a knife, q, is fixed, and jointed to this knife or bladeis a blade or cutter, 1", which is thrown from the blade g by the stressof a suitable spring, 8, (as the press opens,) but as the press isclosed it is moved up to the blade g by its contact with an arm, t,rigidly attached to the table.

The cutting-edge of the blade q is in line with the face of the platenb, and the card, being projected beyond the platen, will be trimmed, asthe press closes, by the cutters.

By means of an adjustable gage, a, a continuous card-strip may beinserted at the open end of the press, and printed and cut intocardlengths, the printed end being thrust through the press until itstrikes the gage a, and a card-length being severed at each operation ofthe press.

We olaim 1. The combination of the bed-frame 0, pivoted at e, theplaten-frame k, resting at one end freely upon the table, and at itsother end pivoted to the bedframe by the connecting shaft or rod i, thelink m, crank-arm n, shaft 0, spring 9, and hand-lever p, the partsbeing relatively arranged, and operated substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. In combination with the platen and typebed, arranged and operatedsubstantially as described, the cutters q 4", arm t, spring 8, and gagea, substantially as shown and described.

LEVI L. LAMB.

ARTHUR M. PRATT.

Witnesses:

Farmers GOULD, M. W. FROTHINGHAM.

